Date: Jan 1911 - May 1911

Scope/content:

Keywords

UKAT

Other details

Contained records

Letter from John Pedder [Principal Assistant Under Secretary, Home Office] to [WSC] enclosing an article from the Daily Mail [see CHAR 12/14/3-4] concerning the number of aliens in London. He describes the article as a "positive nightmare" as the writer has attributed the growth of forty years to four years, and points out that the census figures are not a valid indicator of the numbers of aliens in London. Manuscript signed with intitials annotated by WSC. See CHAR 12/9/8-10 and CHAR 12/9/11-12.

Newspaper cutting of an article from the Daily Mail entitled "London's Aliens: the Facts and Figures About Them" which has been annotated with criticisms and corrections by [John Pedder, Principal Assistant Under Secretary, Home Office]. Covering letter at CHAR 12/14/1-2. See CHAR 12/9/8-10, and CHAR 12/14/11-12.

Draft letter from WSC (Home Office) to King George V informing him that Sir Edward Henry [Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police] has been invited to form proposals to increase the powers of the police to deal with foreign criminals. Subjects covered include: possible legislative measures (including the power to arrest an alien "who has no lawful means of earning a living" and bring him before a magistrate who could pass an expulsion order); the number of aliens in the country; and the possibility that tightening the administration of the Aliens Act would create friction and fail to deal with dangerous aliens. WSC says that the alien population should not be branded with the crimes [of those involved in the "Siege of Sidney Street"]. Manuscript in the hand of WSC annotated "not sent". See CHAR 12/14/6.

Part of a letter from WSC (Home Office) to King George V informing him that Sir Edward Henry [Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police] has been invited to form proposals to increase the powers of the police to deal with foreign criminals. Subjects covered include: possible legislative measures (including the power to arrest an alien "who has no lawful means of earning a living" and bring him before a magistrate who could pass an expulsion order); the number of aliens in the country; and the possibility that tightening the administration of the Aliens Act would create friction and fail to deal with dangerous aliens. WSC says that the alien population should not be branded with the crimes [of those involved in the "Siege of Sidney Street"]. Typescript annotated "not sent". See CHAR 12/14/5.

Printed letter from WSC (Home Office) to the Cabinet enclosing a draft Bill [not present] aimed at the prevention of crimes amongst aliens and the expulsion of criminals. He notes that the Bill includes two "naughty principles" (the differentiation between an alien and a British subject, and the fact that an alien, under certain circumstances, could be deported before committing any offence) and that it aims to spare the non-naturalised alien population from fearing harsh treatment under these provisions. Includes manuscript corrections. Additional copy at CHAR 12/14/8.

Printed letter from WSC (Home Office) to the Cabinet enclosing a draft Bill [not present] aimed at the prevention of crimes amongst aliens and the expulsion of criminals. He notes that the Bill includes two "naughty principles" (the differentiation between an alien and a British subject, and the fact that an alien, under certain circumstances, could be deported before committing any offence) and that it aims to spare the non-naturalised alien population from fearing harsh treatment under these provisions. Additional copy at CHAR 12/14/7.

Letter from Herbert Samuel [Postmaster General] (General Post Office, London) to WSC marked "private" enclosing notes [not present] on WSC's Aliens Bill, commenting that the general principles proposed by the Bill are not open to objection. In a postscript he requests that WSC send him a copy of his memorandum on penal reform in order that he might forward it to Lord Gladstone. Manuscript.

Letter from Henry Wilson [Member of Parliament for Holmfirth Division, Yorkshire] (Thackery Hotel, Great Russell Street, London) to WSC expressing regret about the Aliens Bill, which he describes as "odious". He points out that in the division of votes (excluding the Government) there were more Liberals against the Bill than in favour, and asks WSC to reconsider his attitude as hostility to foreigners is contrary to "old fashioned Liberalism". Signed manuscript.

Copy of a letter from WSC (Home Office) to Henry Wilson [Member of Parliament for Holmfirth Division, Yorkshire] marked "private" replying to his letter about the Aliens Bill [see CHAR 12/14/11). He says that no member of the Liberal Party was obliged to vote for the Bill, which he regards as a way to recognise the provisions of the Government Bill on aliens as law, and that he does not have any hostility towards foreigners although measures are required to deal with alien crime and with artificial and commercial alien immigration. Unsigned typescript.